Washington D.C. to Host First USA Science and Engineering Fest

In October, the National Mall will host the first USA Science and Engineering Festival.

Science buffs, start planning your visit now. For two weeks in October--from October 10 through 24, to be exact--the National Mall will host the first USA Science and Engineering Festival. The event will offer over 750 hands-on, interactive exhibits spanning green energy, aerospace, medicine, robotics, nanotechnology, and many more areas. Events will be free and will even include scientist visits to local schools.

The organizers are hoping to have a million people from across the country visit, and that number seems awfully conservative when you consider how many things are going on. More than 350 of the nation's leading science and engineering organizations are partners, including colleges and universities, corporations, museums, and professional societies.

One goal of the festival is to inspire the next generation of scientists. A new report by the National Science Board says that in 2007 foreign students on temporary visas earned 50 percent or more of all doctoral degrees awarded in engineering, physics, mathematics, and the computer sciences, the organizers say. Organizers also want to get the country's families enthusiastic about science, since that's where many of tomorrow's jobs will be.Back to top

Troy Dreier is a technology writer and editor based in Jersey City, NJ. He’s the editor of OnlineVideo.net, senior associate editor for StreamingMedia.com, and a former staff editor for PC Magazine. He’s @tdreier on Twitter.
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